Make a Raspberry Pi-Controlled Robot: Building a Rover with Python, Linux, Motors, and Sensors

by Wolfram Donat

Overview

Make a Raspberry-Pi Controlled Robot teaches you how to build a capable and upgradeable personal robot for around $100. You'll learn how to control servos, respond to sensor input, and know where your bot is using GPS. You'll also learn many ways to connect to your robot and send it instructions, from an SSH connection to sending text messages from your phone.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781457186035
Publisher:	Make Community, LLC
Publication date:	12/04/2014
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Wolfram Donat is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage, with a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering. Along with an interest in robotics, computer vision, and embedded systems, his general technological interests and Internet expertise serve to make him an extremely eclectic programmer. He specializes in C and C++, with additional skills in Java, Python, and C#/.NET. He is the author of several books and has received funding from NASA for his work in autonomous submersibles.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

1 Introduction 1

2 Intro to the Rasberry Pi 7

Model A and Model B 8

Model B+ 14

GPIO 14

USB 15

Power 15

Shape 15

Where to Get Help 15

3 Intro to Linux 19

Structure 21

Commands 22

Navigation 24

4 Setting Up the Wireless 27

Historical Problems 28

The Ralink Chipset 29

Making It Work: The GUI Way 30

Making It Work: The Command-Line Way 32

Setting a Static IP Address 33

Running the Pi Headless 35

Setting Up an Ad Hoc Network 36

5 Parts Is Parts 39

Body 39

Wheels, Motors, and Power 41

Sensors 47

Miscellany 50

Tools 51

6 Installing ServoBlaster 53

Servos 54

PWM Control 54

ServoBlaster 57

7 Bot Construction 59

The Body 59

The Motors 64

The Wheels 67

The Rear Wheels 68

The Front Wheels 72

The Robotic Arm 74

Pi Power 80

Placing Everything 82

8 Bot Control 85

Connecting the Motors and Motor Controller 85

Controlling the Robotic Arm 89

9 Bot Location 93

Preliminary Setop 94

Communicating with the GPS Module 96

Using the GPS Data 99

10 Sensors, Sensors, Sensors 105

SKT 15 Temperature Senor 107

Ultrasonic Sensor 108

Photoresistor 109

Magnetic Sensor 111

Reed Switch 113

Motion Sensor 115

12C Sensors 116

HMC5883L Compass 119

BMP180P Barometer 120

Nintendo Wii Devices 121

Camera 122

11 Final Code and Conclusion 125

Appendix A Setting Up the Pi 135

Appendix B Intro to Python 141

Index 149